WICHITA, Kan. – McPherson High School Baseball finished off the suspended game at Wichita Collegiate Wednesday, May 14, leaving with the win 12-9 in 10 innings. The regular season ends with a 23-3 record for the Bullpups, which ties the school record for the most wins in a season.
The game was originally played Monday, April 28 and was suspended due to darkness in a 9-9 tie after the 7th inning. CLICK HERE to read the full rundown of games one and two from April 28.
McPherson starting on offense in the top of the 8th inning in a sunny, 90 degree day in Wichita. The team walked twice offensively in the inning, but left them both stranded to keep the game tied. Carter Allen got the nod to pitch in the entire resumption of the contest.
Allen stepped onto the mound, but allowed a leadoff double two pitches into the bottom of the 8th, which put the winning run in scoring position with no outs. However, Allen would strike out the next three batter in 17 combined pitches, keeping the game deadlocked.
The Bullpups had another chance in the 9th after a leadoff hit and a one-out walk, but they fell short again. Allen kept McPherson in with a strikeout and two groundouts in the bottom of the 9th, sending the game to the 10th.
The Pups didn’t falter this go around. The team loaded the bases with no outs after two walks and a hit-by-pitch. A passed ball ended up being the first out, as Brock Richardson was tagged out while running home, but it did advance the other two runners to scoring position. Then two pitches later on a 1-2 count, Cade Strathman drilled a pitch to left field to score the two go-ahead runs on a double. After Strathman advanced to third on a groundout, Carter Bengtson lined a ball off of the glove of the first-baseman to add a run and make it 12-9.
Allen got his turn back on the mound to close it off in the bottom of the 10th. He started the inning with back-to-back outs, but allowed a two out walk. Four pitches later, a ground ball to Strathman ended the game to give the Bullpups the 12-9 win in 10 innings.
McPherson’s regular season ends on an eight-game winning streak and with a 23-3. The 23 wins tie for the most in school history, but it comes in the second year under the new KSHSAA format of allowing a maximum of 26 regular season games. The record, which was set in 2022, included the regular season and postseason win when there was only a maximum of 20 regular season games. The 2022 team was the first State Champion team at MHS.
The win also officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the 4A West Regional standings. They will host Regionals Tuesday, May 20 at the Grant Sports Complex, where the Regional semifinals and finals will be held on the same day. The first semifinal game is believed to begin at 2:00 p.m., but the official matchups will be determined Saturday, May 17.
